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Post by D'rorah Philosophy on Feb 7, 2009 10:52:04 GMT -5
D'rorah lay in bed, fully clothed in a set of her typical modest robes. This set, however, was black instead of the usual deep blues she preferred. Lying in bed, she looked rather like a black and white insertion in a world of color. Her white skin and grey hair coupled with the black robes to magnify the effect. Memories of happier times with Dylan played in her head as she stared blankly at the ceiling, surrounded by the closed curtains of her four-poster bed. She had become very familiar with this bed in the days she had spent in it. Her roommates hadn't seemed to notice her presence at all... likely, they assumed she was in the library or somewhere researching. She had set a long precedent of neglecting her bed, favoring instead places to study. She hoped their ignorance would continue... it was far more peaceful that way. In reality, they had noticed, but none of them felt comfortable talking to D'rorah. They weren't friendly with her, and she had always seemed to odd and set apart from them, like a woman on a mission of her own. Briefly, she wondered if anyone had made note of her absence... she had been here for several days straight, except for the trip she had made downstairs to return Dylan's ring. And that trip, she had only made in the hopes that perhaps it would release her from feeling his black, hateful thoughts about her.
In part, it had worked. She no longer felt the constant malice emanating from him. But then, the indifference with which he seemed to so quickly move on and go about his life seemed nearly as painful. She couldn't understand why he would suddenly think she didn't love him. What could she have possibly done? It was true that she hadn't been able to find him, but that certainly wasn't for lack of trying. She had ravaged herself in her search for him, putting everything else aside. As she thought of it, silent tears began to stream from her eyes. They ran down the sides of her face, slipping around her neck and onto the pillow, leaving long tracks.
Her mind fought for happier memories, but always those memories came back to Dylan, which only renewed her pain. She had questioned the wisdom of their relationship a few times--they both had--knowing Dark Phoenix would likely use, hurt him, in an attempt to get at Dee. But never had she considered the possibility that he would hurt her himself, and would be so unnecessarily cruel about it.
She closed her eyes in an attempt to block out everything that had happened since his disappearance, her eyes shutting out the world around her. Feeling sleep come to carry her off, she submitted willingly, knowing that at least in dreams there was some possibility of escaping the pain for a few moments before her usual nightmares started. Sleep was something her body craved anyway... she had pushed herself so far past her normal part of exhaustion in her search for Dylan that her body was hard-pressed to catch up. It was attempting to recover itself from her neglect... the lack of eating and sleeping together was a lot for a body to take. Of course, D'rorah herself had no desire to recover or for anything else for that matter. In truth, she felt dead already.
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Kerridon Paradox
Ravenclaw
[blue]6th Year Ravenclaw[/blue]
One loss locked me in the heart of misery... but you had the key to set me free
Posts: 317
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Post by Kerridon Paradox on Feb 9, 2009 15:55:46 GMT -5
Since Mami’s rescue from the Shadow Realm, Kerridon had been spending much of his time with the Ravenclaw, helping her recover and come to terms with the torture she had been put through this last month or so. She certainly needed all the help she could get – her fingers had been crushed in one of the pain-making sessions, meaning that any playing of her instruments as he had heard before was going to take a huge amount of effort on her part, once she had healed enough.
With this preoccupation, it had taken him some time to pay enough attention to the rest of the student body to hear of the news surrounding Dylan’s return. It seemed he had merged back into the student body quickly enough with his story of St. Mungo’s, at least in every circumstance except one. Rumours were travelling at lightning speed about his “reunion” with D’rorah in the common room, and Kerridon did not like what he was hearing in the slightest. He had been looking out for D’rorah for some time now but with no luck on his own, he had reluctantly began asking around. He didn’t like relying on other people – never had – but it seemed impossible to avoid in these circumstances. She wasn’t in the library, the Ravenclaw common room, the Astronomy Tower...
Eventually he hit some luck. One of the other seventh year Ravenclaw girls told him of how D’rorah had been sulking in the dormitory for several days in a particularly disdainful voice. Having ascertained both that D’rorah had only left there once in several days (on which occasion she returned very soon afterwards) with no interruption from her roommates, and that this girl should not be allowed to possess the Ravenclaw badge if she didn’t realise that food was an essential part of staying alive, Kerridon left her quickly and headed outside, via route of the Elf Kitchens. Once sure he wasn’t being watched, he transformed to his animagus form and flew upwards.
It took a short while to reach the appropriate floor, but once he had it was just a matter of locating the correct window. He perched on the window sill for a few seconds to check no one else was in the room, then flew through and transformed back to his human form. All the beds except one were neatly made and empty, but he headed for the one which had its curtains drawn. He leant down to draw one aside and was about as unhappy with D’rorah’s appearance as he had been with that other Ravenclaw girl a short while ago. She was very pale and her face was visibly thinner than the last time he’d seen her; fresh tear tracks ran down her cheeks and her eyes were closed, giving the impression of her being asleep.
[blue]”D’rorah,”[/blue] he murmured, reaching out a hand to touch her cheek lightly, ignoring the chill that emanated from it. [blue]”Wake up...”[/blue]
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Post by D'rorah Philosophy on Feb 9, 2009 23:41:50 GMT -5
D'rorah felt the light from the room hitting her as her bed curtain was drawn aside, but thought she might be able to ignore whoever was disturbing her if she simply stayed still. The light was quite uncomfortable for several reasons, the least of which was the fact that she had been closed away behind her dark bed curtains for more days than she had bothered to keep track of. She heard a familiar voice murmur her name, and it sounded kind... but it wasn't the voice she had hoped to hear a kind word from ever since his return. Feeling a warm, almost hot (to her) hand on her cheek, she flinched away slightly, her head turning away from the source of he light. "[blue]I do not wish to wake up,[/blue]" she murmured quietly, pulling her blankets closer about her. "[blue]I am ever so tired, Mister Paradox. You told me I should sleep more...[/blue]" she allowed her words to trail off and settled more deeply into her pillows, turned slightly on her side.
She waited quietly, willing herself to fall asleep again. She'd never imagined that simply allowing herself to die would take so much work. But then, for all of her recent neglect of her body, she'd been a healthy person when she started. Even now, her biggest problems could likely easily be solved with hydration and food. Unfortunately, she knew Kerridon wouldn't be so easily put off. She didn't wait for long, finally turning back towards him and opening her eyes. For all her sleep, she still managed to look tired, though it was more emotional than physical now. She squinted against the light in the room, her body sensitive to light both because of her long sequestration behind drawn curtains and because of the near corruptions she had experienced since coming to Hogwarts. "[blue]I suppose it was too much to hope that my dorm mates would not notice the sudden, continuous occupation of a bed that has stood empty so many nights at Hogwarts,[/blue]"she remarked weakly.
She lifted her eyes to meet Kerridon's. "[blue]How is Miss Tien?[/blue]" she asked, hoping she might deflect the attention from herself so that she could get on with her task at hand. It didn't have much hope of success, but was worth a shot at least.
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Post by Katherine Knightswood on Feb 10, 2009 12:00:58 GMT -5
Katherine was sweating from nerves as she climbed the stairs to the Ravenclaw dorm. All the other Ravenclaw girls had been ignoring what was right under their noses, but Katherine couldn’t anymore. The locus of pain and sorrow beat at the back of her mind, like a bird’s wings against an imprisoning windowpane. Never mind that this was the dorm for the girls fifth year and above, Katherine knew she had to go in that room. D’rorah was suffering, and Katherine had to do something. Katherine couldn’t let the woman she looked up to down, not at a time like this. D’rorah had been there for her in her worst hour, and now it was Katherine’s turn. If D’rorah would let her be there.
Katherine hesitated with her hand on the door, hearing voices. Maybe D’rorah was talking to one of the other girls, finally? The youngster listened and then swallowed hard. That was a male voice. Oh dear Morgan and Merlin, what if Dylan was in there?! The thought galvanized her. She opened the door and walked in quietly but quickly, determined to talk to D’rorah about her suspicions. To the young Ravenclaw’s great relief, she saw that it was Kerridon, not Dylan here. Katherine didn’t worry about how he’d gotten there. The upperclassmen knew more magic than she did; it was probably something he’d learned on his own. Kerridon was someone Katherine instinctively trusted, just like D’rorah.
“Sorry to barge in, but I’d had enough of being worried sick and I have to do something.” Katherine came over to stand by the two senior Ravenclaws. She looked up at Kerridon and then down at D’rorah. “Things have gone more horribly wrong than usual, and I’m sorry I couldn’t summon up the courage to act sooner.” She took in the sight of D’rorah, all dressed in black and her hair the color of a March rainstorm and had to choke down tears. Katherine closed her eyes, fighting down her reaction to the thick sorrow permeating the air. “Something’s wrong with Dylan, and I’m starting to wonder what really happened to him.” Katherine shivered and then opened her eyes, looking first to Kerridon and then D’rorah. “Please. What can I do to help, if you’ll let me? I may be one of the youngest among the Lightfighters, but I’ll do anything I can.”
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Kerridon Paradox
Ravenclaw
[blue]6th Year Ravenclaw[/blue]
One loss locked me in the heart of misery... but you had the key to set me free
Posts: 317
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Post by Kerridon Paradox on Feb 11, 2009 13:53:58 GMT -5
D’rorah did not immediately respond to him, staying still until he reached out. When he did touch her freezing skin, she flinched away immediately, showing that she was indeed awake. The quiet voice that spoke a moment later confirmed it. A few moments later she seemed to settle down again, ready to return to sleep. Although maybe it was a good thing for her to be getting more sleep, not quite to this extent.
He reached out again and gently pulled at her arm, hoping to roll her over so that the light was on her face again. [blue]”It appears you have had plenty of sleep the last few days, I am sure you can stay awake a little longer. Besides, I believe I also mentioned how you should be eating more, and it seems you have totally abandoned that idea. You need food,”[/blue] he informed her, still speaking in a quiet voice pitched not much louder than hers.
She did turn after a few seconds, but whether due to his pull on her arm or of her own accord he couldn’t tell. He didn’t reply to her comment about her roommates, none of whom were in his good books right now. It should not be too much to ask for the supposed cleverest people in the school to pay attention to their prefect’s hiding away and for it to occur to them that you needed food as well as sleep to survive.
[blue]”Miss Tien is recovering slowly, but it will be more difficult to care for her if I have to constantly ensure that you are eating and drinking as you should as well,”[/blue] he replied in a stern tone, not allowing the subject to be changed. In his robe pockets was food he had picked up from the kitchens, but he did not get it out yet. Best to persuade D’rorah to eat rather than force it on her.
Focussed on the older Ravenclaw, he did not hear steps coming closer as he normally would have, but the door opening, however quietly, did attract his attention. Dropping his hand from D’rorah’s arm he spun, ready to stun or disarm whoever it was who had come in. Seeing such a small girl made him pause long enough to prevent himself doing anything drastic, and possibly unnecessary, and he slowly lowered his arm as he glared in her direction. Katherine, he thought she was. Supposedly one of the lightfighters, but that bit of knowledge did not mean he trusted her. He knew all how easily it was possible to persuade youngsters to join Dark Phoenix – he had done so himself several times – and also how they seemed to avoid suspicion so easily because of their age. One good 11-year-old actor and you could be done for. Had he known of her instinctual trust in him, he would probably have laughed. As it was though, he continued to stare her down as she came closer and then spoke.
Her apparent proximity to tears did nothing to lessen his harsh gaze, and her wonderings out loud about what ‘really’ happened to Dylan didn’t help either. D’rorah was the only lightfighter he would trust with that information, simply because she had been the one to help him change sides, and had then helped rescue Mami when he needed the assistance. The others were mostly unknown entities, except for perhaps Keaira... and there was no chance of trust there, with the hate that still emanated in her direction from him.
Rather than give a hostile retort though, many of which could have escaped his lips had he given them the chance, he turned his head a little to glance at D’rorah, still keeping an eye on Katherine. She was obviously more well-acquainted with the prefect than with him, so perhaps D’rorah would know how best to deal with this. However, he wasn’t about to give her a chance to mention Dylan’s time in the Shadow Realm, so he did speak up about that part. [blue]”Mister Cooper has been in St. Mungo’s due to a head injury. That injury or any medication he has to take because of it could quite easily be causing his change in demeanour towards Miss Philosophy. Potions have been known to have strange side-effects before. And human beings also have a tendency to lose and gain feelings for people if they are away for a long while,”[/blue] he said solidly, knowing everything he said to be true. This time it wasn’t really like his game of not properly lying though – this was due to simply protecting his own cover.
It might not be particularly helpful for D’rorah to hear, but at least she knew the truth about his time in the Shadow Realm. By this point it had occurred to him that this must be the reason Phoenix had let him return to Hogwarts unharmed, at least no more than that head wound – to hurt D’rorah. And it was certainly working. But now Katherine was here, he could hardly explain his theory. That would have to wait for another time.
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Post by D'rorah Philosophy on Feb 12, 2009 0:36:45 GMT -5
D'rorah closed her eyes wearily as Kerridon moved on from the issue of Mami's recovery and reiterated her need for food. "[blue]I am well aware of the physical necessities of the human body, Mister Paradox,[/blue]" she replied in a tired voice. "[blue]I simply...[/blue]"
She found her words cut off as Katherine entered the room. The jarring motion of Kerridon's startled spinning towards the door, caused her heart to skip a beat. She spared a glance in Katherine's direction, hearing the stress and concern in her voice. [blue]Good God, did I really look so awful?[blue] she wondered to herself.
“Things have gone more horribly wrong than usual, and I’m sorry I couldn’t summon up the courage to act sooner.”
"[blue]Miss Knightswood, no one holds you accountable for anything I have done to myself,[/blue]" she replied, shaking her head slightly to dispel the groggy feeling that fogged her mind and made clear thought somewhat difficult. As Katherine moved on to talk about Dylan, her lips pursed. As soon as she had finished, Kerridon had already caught her eye and had chimed in with the expected story. Of course no one else was to know that he had been in the Shadow Realm. His last words stung nerves that were already raw and bleeding within her, reminding her of the very reason she had cloistered herself in her room.
"[blue]Yes, Mister Cooper seems quite happy now that he has found himself a new playmate,[/blue]" she remarked dryly, giving voice to the rumors she had overheard from the other girls as they flitted vacantly about the room during random times of day. She suddenly recalled why she didn't care for spending much time with other females her own age--they tended to be self-absorbed with a strong propensity for inanity and idle gossip. "[blue]In any matter, I have already verified his stay at St. Mungo's. As Mister Paradox already mentioned, there are so very many reasons he might no longer wish to have anything to do with me.[/blue]" She caught Kerridon's eye at that point, giving him a somewhat nasty look.
Resigned to the fact that she'd likely never have a moment of peace in this room anyway now that the first of them had already taken it upon themselves to check on her, D'rorah pressed the heels of her hands into the mattress and lifted herself into a half-sitting position. Having the younger student there had at least accomplished the goal of reminding her that there were others she served in this war. And it wouldn't do for them to see their leader as she was now. At least sitting up was slightly better. Though, the act of sitting up itself seemed like a rather monumental effort. "[blue]Peace, Mister Paradox,[/blue]" she said, seeing Kerridon's tension. "[blue]I do not yet believe we have been infiltrated by an agent of the Mage, come to carry as all to our doom.[/blue]" She spoke, of course, of Katherine's sudden appaearance. Clearly, Kerridon didn't know her well enough to trust her, but D'rorah already knew of the great loss Katherine had endured in losing her family and she could see that her intentions were pure.
"[blue]You are already here,[/blue]" she remarked, looking at Katherine. "[blue]Come in, sit for a while.[/blue]" she gestured to the corner of the bed before settling herself into a position where she could converse comfortably. "[blue]Clearly you are troubled, and your distress seems more accute than I would expect.[/blue]"
She looked over at Kerridon. "[blue]And you, I suppose came prepared to force food and water upon me, Mister Paradox?[/blue]" she asked with her eyebrow arched slightly. Now that there were people around she would have to act the part of D'rorah Philosophy. "[blue]Best to have this all over with quickly so I can return to the task at hand.[/blue]" It was hard, but she could pretend to be herself for a few minutes... perhaps enough to reassure them... and then maybe she would be left alone again. She had no desire to return to the world outside or to have to endure the sight of Dylan and the new love of his life. She hoped she was masking the broken heart that threatened to drive to her madness well enough to regain her peace. She deserved at least that much... a peaceful end to such a tumultuous life.
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